In this evocative episode of Rooted & Wild, we journey into Healing the Mother Line—a profound exploration of the emotional, ancestral, and societal forces that shape motherhood across generations. Our guest, Kara Dobelis, ARNP, is a board-certified Family Nurse Practitioner whose trauma-informed, integrative lens brings clarity and compassion to a topic many feel but few can name.

For generations, mothers have carried more than children—they have carried expectations. The expectation to be endlessly patient, endlessly available, endlessly strong. The expectation to sacrifice themselves without acknowledgment. The expectation to mother perfectly, even when they themselves were never mothered well. These societal pressures create a silent inheritance—one that molds identity, shapes health, and echoes through the lineage long before a child is born.

Within the modern healthcare system, these pressures often intensify. Mothers’ symptoms are frequently minimized or dismissed. Postpartum struggles are underdiagnosed or framed as personal weakness. Women navigating chronic illness, hormonal imbalance, or emotional trauma rarely receive the time, validation, or holistic support they need. Kara has seen this firsthand—from her early days in Critical Care and Surgery to her leadership roles in large healthcare organizations. She watched systems reward efficiency over empathy, productivity over presence, and quick fixes over true healing.

Her own health crisis—and the failures of conventional medicine to address it—became a turning point. Integrative medicine finally helped her uncover the deeper layers: nervous system dysregulation, unprocessed trauma, and ancestral patterns quietly living in the body. This revelation now shapes her work at Integrative Family Medicine, where she helps patients connect the dots between inherited wounds, lived experience, and physical symptoms.

In this episode, we explore:
• How mother-line trauma is passed down emotionally, hormonally, and somatically
• The invisible burdens society places on women and mothers
• Why so many mothers feel unseen or unsupported in medical spaces
• How the healthcare system often reinforces generational patterns of self-abandonment
• The initiation of motherhood as a portal for ancestral repair
• Practical, compassionate ways to begin healing your mother line—whether you are a mother or not

If you’ve ever felt the weight of expectations you never agreed to carry…
If you’ve sensed that your struggles echo those of the women before you…
If you are ready to break cycles, reclaim your inner mother, and heal your lineage—
this episode is a powerful invitation.

Learn more about Kara and her work at:
https://www.integrativemediowa.com

Rooted & Wild provides general information for educational and informational purposes only. The views and opinions expressed by guest speakers are their own and do not necessarily reflect those of David Allen Tracy. The content shared on this podcast is not intended to replace individualized medical, psychological, or therapeutic advice, nor should it be used to diagnose or treat any health condition. Listeners are encouraged to consult with qualified healthcare professionals regarding any medical or mental health concerns.

In this episode of Rooted & Wild, we return to the origins of one of the most influential healing lineages in the world: Usui Reiki. Guided by the luminous presence of Stephanie Ulven, we explore what it truly means to tap into “the original flow” — the pure, unbroken current of universal life force that forms the heart of traditional Usui practice.

Stephanie Ulven is a multidimensional healer, educator, and holistic practitioner whose work is rooted in a rich, global, and deeply diverse lineage of energetic and integrative healing arts. Her journey spans thousands of hours of formal training across Reiki, Egyptian and shamanic energy medicine, sound and meditation therapies, emotional healing modalities, and end-of-life support. Guided by renowned teachers and institutions around the world, Stephanie brings a rare depth, wisdom, and integrity to every healing space she creates.

Her foundation in energy work is extensive. She is a Sekhem/Seichim Egyptian Energy Healing Master Educator and Kundalini Reiki Master Educator, both under the mentorship of Professor Krishna N Sharma. She received her Usui Reiki Master Educator and Crystal Reiki Master Educator certifications through Lisa Powers, and trained in Karuna Ki Reiki with Aimee Phlegar. She is also certified as a Chakra & Traditional Seichim Healing Therapist through POBA, giving her a broad and nuanced understanding of the subtle body and its energetic systems.

Stephanie’s approach also integrates evidence-based emotional healing modalities. She is an EFT Tapping Facilitator and Coach, trained by psychotherapist Mark Casey, and a Cognitive Behavioral Therapy Coach/Practitioner, certified by Priority Academy. These tools allow her to bridge energetic healing with grounded psychological support.

Her work expands into meditative and vibrational practices as a Meditation Practitioner/Educator and Certified Sound Therapy & Sound Healing Practitioner, trained through Virtued Academy International.

In the realm of natural and ancestral medicine, Stephanie is a Certified Homeopath through Dr. Paul Greham and has trained in shamanic pathways as a Shamanic Holistic Health Practitioner under Rev. Dr. Bonnie Russell, as well as through Shamanic Energy Medicine Journeywork with Silke Schwarzkopf.

Her commitment to compassionate care also extends to life’s most tender thresholds. She is trained in End-of-Life Support, Grief Care, and Dissolving the Fear of Death, under the guidance of Fiona Whitmore and Jill Townsend.

Across all modalities, Stephanie’s work reflects her devotion to supporting emotional healing, energetic alignment, and spiritual growth. Her practice, Equanimity Wellness, is the home of this integrative tapestry—a place where clients are met with presence, depth, and a level of mastery that is both rare and deeply felt.

Learn more about her work at: https://www.equanimity-wellness.com

Rooted & Wild provides general information for educational and informational purposes only. The views and opinions expressed by guest speakers are their own and do not necessarily reflect those of David Allen Tracy. The content shared on this podcast is not intended to replace individualized medical, psychological, or therapeutic advice, nor should it be used to diagnose or treat any health condition. Listeners are encouraged to consult with qualified healthcare professionals regarding any medical or mental health concerns.

What does it mean to embody character—especially when life stretches you, confronts you, or asks you to become a version of yourself you’re still growing into? In this episode, we explore the courage, honesty, and deep self-attunement required to live your values from the inside out.

Joining me is Esther Sarlo, the visionary force behind Mynd Myself—a platform created in response to a massive gap in centralized, trustworthy, and truly integrative health information. In a world overwhelmed with noise, contradictory advice, and confusing wellness claims, Mynd Myself exists to give you access to vetted CHI practitioners, credible resources, and a compassionate space where you feel safe, seen, and supported on your healing journey.

As the cornerstone of this game-changing health platform, Esther is an entrepreneur, facilitator, speaker, and writer who is fiercely committed to helping people live—and speak—their most authentic lives. She is the catalyst for a movement built around one core truth: Because YOU matter.

Together, we dive into character, congruence, integrity, and the inner work it takes to keep showing up as who you truly are.

Connect with Esther & Mynd Myself

Website & Resources
Events: https://www.myndmyself.com/events/

Podcast: https://www.myndmyself.com/podcasts/

Blog: https://www.myndmyself.com/blogs/

LinkedIn
Mynd Myself: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mynd-myself-because-you-matter-441936262/

Esther: https://www.linkedin.com/in/esther-sarlo-because-you-matter

Facebook
Mynd Myself: https://www.facebook.com/myndmyself

Esther: https://www.facebook.com/esther.sarlo/

Instagram
https://www.instagram.com/myndmyself/

YouTube
https://www.youtube.com/@myndmysel

Rooted & Wild provides general information for educational and informational purposes only. The views and opinions expressed by guest speakers are their own and do not necessarily reflect those of David Allen Tracy. The content shared on this podcast is not intended to replace individualized medical, psychological, or therapeutic advice, nor should it be used to diagnose or treat any health condition. Listeners are encouraged to consult with qualified healthcare professionals regarding any medical or mental health concerns.

Across generations, men have been taught to stay strong, stay quiet, and stay in control. But those messages come at a cost—disconnection, emotional shutdown, chronic stress, and a crisis of presence that affects relationships, families, and even the health of society itself.

In this episode of Rooted & Wild, we sit down with Mark Grayson, a writer, thought leader, and founder of Trinity Spiritual Center, to explore why so many men feel detached from their bodies, emotions, intuition, and authentic inner lives—and what true reconnection looks like. Drawing from his work, his writing, and his upcoming book Getting Naked: A Field Guide for Men, Mark helps unpack both the cultural forces and personal narratives that keep men emotionally armored… and what it takes to lay those layers down.

We dive into questions like:
• Why do so many men struggle to feel present—in their bodies, relationships, and purpose?
• How do early expectations shape emotional withdrawal?
• What does healthy vulnerability look like for men today?
• How can men reconnect with compassion, intuition, and their internal landscape without abandoning strength?
• Why is the crisis of male presence also a crisis of connection in families and communities?

This conversation is honest, grounded, and deeply human—offering a framework for understanding masculinity not as a performance, but as an embodied, relational, emotionally intelligent way of moving through the world.

About Mark Grayson

Mark Grayson grew up in a small town in Ohio and in remote parts of Central Texas. He worked his way through Harvard College and Columbia Business School before beginning his career in the entertainment industry in Los Angeles. Over the years, Mark helped launch and scale several innovative organizations, including Rabbit Ears, the education nonprofit All Kinds of Minds, and Rocket21, a digital platform encouraging kids to explore their dreams.

As the Founding Director of Trinity Spiritual Center, Mark has hosted widely respected conversations with leading thinkers—earning comparisons to Krista Tippett’s On Being and receiving multiple national recognitions. His civic advocacy has also contributed to the creation of the Lewis-Houghton Civics and Democracy Initiative at the Library of Congress, funded at $2.3 million to support American history education ahead of the nation’s 250th anniversary.

As a Featured Columnist for The Good Men Project, Mark has authored more than 50 essays exploring masculinity, relationships, and the inner life of men. His forthcoming book, Getting Naked, distills these insights into a practical and compassionate guide for men seeking to expand beyond traditional masculine norms.

He lives in Greenfield Hill, CT with his wife, Sarah, their two sons, and their lively Havanese, Phoebe.

Explore more of Mark’s work:
• Articles for The Good Men Project: https://goodmenproject.com/author/mark-grayson/

• Getting Naked on Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Getting-Naked-Field-Guide-Men-ebook/dp/B0DB3BCBNV

Rooted & Wild provides general information for educational and informational purposes only. The views and opinions expressed by guest speakers are their own and do not necessarily reflect those of David Allen Tracy. The content shared on this podcast is not intended to replace individualized medical, psychological, or therapeutic advice, nor should it be used to diagnose or treat any health condition. Listeners are encouraged to consult with qualified healthcare professionals regarding any medical or mental health concerns.

When someone you love dies, the world doesn’t just change—it stops. Everything familiar becomes unfamiliar, and the language of daily life suddenly feels impossible to speak. In this episode, we explore those first disorienting days and weeks of grief with guest Stacy Parker, a bereaved mother and longtime grief educator who has spent more than two decades helping families survive the unimaginable.

About Stacy Parker:
Stacy is a native Californian living in the Los Angeles area with her husband and two children. She became a grief expert after the death of her first daughter, Alyssa, in 1997. Since then, she and her husband have been deeply involved with The Compassionate Friends, facilitating their local chapter beginning in 2000 and co-chairing the 2004 TCF National Conference in Hollywood, as well as assisting with the TCF International Conference in 2012.

Stacy has volunteered at Our House Grief Support Center in Los Angeles, served as a parent advocate at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center and UCLA Mattel Children’s Hospital, and sat on the board for the Children’s Hospice of America Foundation. She is also a certified grief educator through David Kessler’s program, has been a guest on Open to Hope, and is the author of the powerful book Grief As a Second Language.

Together, we talk about:
• What acute grief does to the brain, body, and spirit
• Why nothing feels real—and why that’s normal
• How to function when you’re barely surviving
• What to do when others don’t know what to say
• The earliest steps toward rebuilding a shattered world

If you’re grieving today, this episode offers compassion, understanding, and a reminder that you don’t have to navigate loss alone.

Explore Stacy’s work & grief resources:
Book: Grief As a Second Language — https://www.amazon.com/Grief-Second-Language-Guidebook-Living/dp/1725918897

The Compassionate Friends — https://www.compassionatefriends.org/

Love Mama Grief Retreat (1440 Multiversity) — https://www.1440.org/events/scotts-valley/love-mama-grief-retreat

The Grief Healing Collective — https://drlauraberman.com/griefhealingcollective/

Rooted & Wild provides general information for educational and informational purposes only. The views and opinions expressed by guest speakers are their own and do not necessarily reflect those of David Allen Tracy. The content shared on this podcast is not intended to replace individualized medical, psychological, or therapeutic advice, nor should it be used to diagnose or treat any health condition. Listeners are encouraged to consult with qualified healthcare professionals regarding any medical or mental health concerns.

Modern medicine has dramatically changed how we understand—and often experience—some of the most fundamental processes of life: menstruation, birth, menopause, and death. But in the process, many of the natural rhythms, inner wisdom, and holistic care models have been lost. In this episode of Rooted & Wild, we challenge conventional medical narratives and explore how integrative, trauma-informed care can restore dignity, body-awareness, and holistic support during life’s most transformative transitions.

Joining us is Kara Dobelis, ARNP, an integrative family nurse practitioner, trauma-informed clinician, and co-founder of Integrative Family Medicine in Des Moines, Iowa. Kara’s own path—from critical care and surgical nursing, through healthcare administration, to founding a patient-first holistic practice—gave her frontline insight into the gaps in conventional care.

With dual master’s degrees in Clinical Informatics and Nurse Practitioner practice, and extensive experience treating chronic illness, complex viral conditions, and immune dysfunction, Kara brings a depth of clinical knowledge and compassion to her work. She specializes in caring for patients who don’t find answers through standard medical protocols: those with chronic fatigue, suspected Lyme disease, EBV, long-term immune suppression, or undiagnosed systemic issues.

Kara offers a written and embodied approach to integrative care: trauma-informed intakes, personalized diagnostics, nutritional and lifestyle medicine, IV and NAD+ infusions, herbal and homeopathic support, nervous system regulation, and ongoing follow-up aimed at restoring balance and vitality. Her own healing journey—marked by illness, trauma, and ultimately, resilience—drives her dedication to helping others reclaim their health holistically.

In this conversation, we dig into:

• How modern obstetric and gynecologic practices have shaped our experience of menstruation, birth, menopause, and end-of-life care.
• What gets lost when birth becomes medical procedure, menopause becomes pathology, and death becomes taboo.
• The role of integrative medicine in honoring the body’s natural cycles and transitions.
• What trauma-informed, compassionate healthcare can look like during major life passages.
• How lifestyle, nutrition, nervous-system care, and personalized medicine can support smoother transitions — on the physical, emotional, and spiritual levels.

If you’ve ever questioned the standard narrative around these life stages, or felt like medicine overlooked the deeper truths of your body’s experiences, this episode offers insight, compassion, and a different path forward.

Learn more about Kara Dobelis and Integrative Family Medicine:

https://www.integrativemediowa.com

Rooted & Wild provides general information for educational and informational purposes only. The views and opinions expressed by guest speakers are their own and do not necessarily reflect those of David Allen Tracy. The content shared on this podcast is not intended to replace individualized medical, psychological, or therapeutic advice, nor should it be used to diagnose or treat any health condition. Listeners are encouraged to consult with qualified healthcare professionals regarding any medical or mental health concerns.

In a world where true connection is becoming rare, the tables we build—and how we invite people to gather around them—may be one of the most powerful forms of relational wealth we can cultivate. In this intimate conversation, we explore how intentional environments, shared experiences, and the simple act of coming together can nourish belonging, open the heart, and help people flourish.

My guest today, David Brower, is an international impresario of live experiences that fuse artistry, intimacy, and inspiration. A #1 best-selling author, poet, and speaker, David creates gatherings that feel like living works of art—immersive, connective, and unforgettable. His events invite beauty, joy, and purpose back into the room, encouraging us to savor the fullness of being alive while forging meaningful bonds with one another. More than entertainment, his work is a catalyst for presence and transformation, reminding us that everyday life can be celebrated as the greatest stage of all.

If you’ve been longing for deeper community, richer conversations, or gatherings that feel intentional rather than obligatory, this episode offers both inspiration and practical wisdom for designing spaces where people feel truly seen, held, and connected.

Learn more about David’s work at:
https://davidbrower.com

Rooted & Wild provides general information for educational and informational purposes only. The views and opinions expressed by guest speakers are their own and do not necessarily reflect those of David Allen Tracy. The content shared on this podcast is not intended to replace individualized medical, psychological, or therapeutic advice, nor should it be used to diagnose or treat any health condition. Listeners are encouraged to consult with qualified healthcare professionals regarding any medical or mental health concerns.

Energy healing is often talked about in vague or mystical terms—but beneath the language and symbolism lies a grounded, deeply human truth: we all carry emotional, physical, and spiritual imprints that shape how we feel, respond, and move through the world. In this episode, we explore the foundations of energy healing and the chakra system with Stephanie Ulven, founder of Equanimity Wellness.

Stephanie’s path into this work began long before she knew what to call it. In the early '90s, she studied psychology and sociology, searching for answers about why people feel disconnected from themselves. But it wasn’t until she moved into cosmetology—an unexpected doorway—that she discovered the profound impact of touch, presence, and authentic connection. Clients began asking not just for services, but for what they called a “Stephanie Session”—space to unravel, breathe, and finally feel like themselves again.

When the world unraveled during the pandemic, people turned to her not only for comfort but for clarity. She realized that many were carrying emotional and energetic burdens with nowhere safe to process them. Her calling deepened.

Today, Stephanie is a Master Educator in multiple energy modalities, including Usui Reiki, Kundalini Reiki, Crystal Reiki, Karuna Ki Reiki, and Sekhem Reiki. Through Equanimity Wellness, she offers a sanctuary for those seeking grounding, emotional release, nervous system regulation, and a return to inner balance. Her work is rooted in understanding the duality of human experience—what we say versus what we truly feel—and guiding clients back to honesty, alignment, and peace.

In this episode, we explore:
• What energy healing is (and what it is not)
• How blocked or overwhelmed energy shows up in the body
• The chakra system as a map for emotional and spiritual wellbeing
• Why touch, presence, and attunement are powerful tools for healing
• How reconnecting to our internal landscape creates resilience

If you’ve ever felt disconnected, emotionally overloaded, or unsure why your inner world feels so heavy, this conversation brings clarity, compassion, and a grounded understanding of how energy healing supports the whole person.

Learn more about Stephanie’s work at Equanimity Wellness:
https://www.equanimity-wellness.com

Rooted & Wild provides general information for educational and informational purposes only. The views and opinions expressed by guest speakers are their own and do not necessarily reflect those of David Allen Tracy. The content shared on this podcast is not intended to replace individualized medical, psychological, or therapeutic advice, nor should it be used to diagnose or treat any health condition. Listeners are encouraged to consult with qualified healthcare professionals regarding any medical or mental health concerns.